Table-service apparatus.



A. L. BOWEN.

TABLE SERVICE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6.1914.

1,155,638. Patented Oct. 5, 1915.

WITNESSES: 5 INVENTOR 6. PM qfia/mifiawm ATTOR N E Y,

COLUMBIA PLANUGRAPH $0.. WASHINGTON, Dv c.

AARON L. BOWEN, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ASSTGNOR TO HENRY B. HARDT, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

TABLE-SERVICE APPARATUS.

cense.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Get. 5, 1915.

Application filed July 6, 1914. Serial No. 849,095.

7 b all whom it may concern 7 Be it known that I, AARON L. BOWEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Table-Service Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in table service appliances and has for its object the provision of simple and convenient devices for use upon dining tables whereby service to persons dining is rendered easy and avoiding the necessity of personal attendance of a waiter during the progress of a meal.

A further object of. the invention is the provision of detachable trays of unitary or multiple form whereby the dishes to be served may be readily conveyed to the table.

The invention consists in the novel con struction of a suitable support and the combination and adaptation therewith of trays of novel construction and configuration, and i the method of detachably securing the same to said standard, as will be fully described in the following specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and finally set forth in the appended ciaims.

In said drawings, Figure l is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the table service apparatus of my invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view through 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing one of the trays removed. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the upper tray and support therefor. Fig. 4L is an underside perspective view of one of the tray-elements shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view through 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Referring to said views, the reference numeral 1 designates a central vertical standard of cylindrical form rigidly mounted in a base 2 supported upon legs 3. Said base is desirably formed with an annular bearing face 5 adapted to rotatably support the hub 6 of frame 7 revolubly mounted on said standard. Said frame consists in a plurality of symmetrically spaced radial arms 8 formed with branches 10 at their outer extremities, the upper surface of said arms and branches being in a horizontal plane and structurally adapted to support a considerable weight. The extremities of said branches may be formed in an axle bearing 11 supporting rotatable flanged rollers 12. Three such arms are illustrated, adapted to support an equivalent number of trays 13 each formed of suitable segmental configuration to complete the entire perimeter of the frame, the inner portions of said trays being formed, as at 15, to accommodate the standard 1. Said trays are otherwise of usual construction, excepting on their underside they are provided with a clip 16 positioned in proximity of said inner portion 15 and formed with two depending spring metal flanges 1'? upon opposite sides of the transverse axis of the tray and adapted to re-' siliently engage upon either side of the respective arm 8. Strips 18 are rigidly securedto said tray-bottom parallel and upon opposite sides of said axis. When removed from the frame, the tray 13 is supported upon strips 18 and when being positioned upon the frame said strips rest upon and are guided forwardly upon the respective rollers; the outer side edges of the strips engage upon the inner side of the flanges of said rollers 12 and serve to guide and position the tray with respect to the supporting arm.

In adjusting a tray upon the frame, the clip 16 is first engaged with the respective arm 8 and the weight of the tray rested upon said rollers. The tray may then be slid forwardly until the portion 15 thereof engages the central hub 6 of the frame, whereupon the strips 18 no longer support the tray upon said rollers but permit the lowering of the tray upon the roller while the forward extremity 18 of the strips engage the respective rollers and prevent the dislodgment of the tray forwardly without the tray being first lifted and withdrawn. The trays are thus seen to be readily removable and portable and while the standard and frame are mounted upon the dining table for constant use, the trays may be removed to the kitchen for washing and to receive dishes and tableware for use in the dining room. The trays may then be transported into the dining room and readily mounted upon the frame in the manner described.

Persons assembled about the dining table may help themselves to the dishes supported upon the trays and reduce the amount of service and attendance to a minimum.

The number of trays utilized or the spethe collar 20.

cific configuration thereof or construction of the supporting frame, are not specifically set forth, as the same may be varied to a considerable extent within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims. For instance, the trays may be formedin two half-sections with an obvious change in the form of the supporting frame or, as indicated in Fig. 1 and illustrated in detail in Fig. 3, a supporting bracket may be utilized comprising a structure of circular form. Reverting to said views, the reference numeral 20 indicates a supporting collar having a set screw 21 adapted to fixedly position the same at any desired elevation upon said standard. Rotatably mounted on the said collar and revoluble upon the standard 1 is a circular frame 22 adapted to support a tray 23 or a plurality of traysof any suitable configuration. Said tray 23 is of substantially circular configuration having a recess 25 extending to its center and adapt .23 may be mounted upon its bracket support by directing the same to have the shaft 1 enterthe recess 25 and position the same concentrically thereof. It is readily detached and removed and is rotatable upon Mounted upon the upper-extremity of said standard is a stationary shelf 27 for the support of fruit or flowers in ornamentation of the table.

The entire construction may be of pyramidal form of pleasing and ornamental appearance and is believed to afford consider- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

able saving in labor and comfort in'reducing the amount of table service.

What I claim, is v 1. Table service apparatus, consisting in a vertically arranged circular standard, a frame rotatably mounted on said standard having a plurality of radially directed arms and oppositely. directed branches upon each of said arms, anti-friction rollers rotatably' supported upon each of said branches, a tray removably supported on each said arm, said tray having an axially alined 'clip adapted to engage with said arm, and a strip adapted to register with the respective said rollers, said strips being arranged to drop in behind said rollers when the tray is in inserted position upon theframe.

said strips being arranged .to drop in behind i said rollers when the tray is in inserted position upon the frame.

Signed at Seattle,

of June, 1914;.

. AARON L. BOVVEN'.

lVitnesses: i E. PETERSON,

HonAcn BARNES.-

Washington, 1). C.

Walshj, this 27th day 

